Freddie Roach expressed excitement that the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton bout has been finalized and said he would like Pacquiao to fight Floyd Mayweather next.

That depends on a lot of variables, not the least being Mayweather agreeing to step out of retirement.

Pacquiao, who inherited boxing's pound-for-pound mantle when the Grand Rapids native walked away from the sport, also has to defeat Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas before any such fight could materialize.

But fighting the tactical Mayweather would be a completely different experience for Pacquiao than facing the brawling Hatton.

"Very difficult style, of course," Roach said in a telephone interview from his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif. "You would have two speed guys in there. I think Manny has a little more power, while Floyd's a little better boxer. Style-wise, it's really a tough fight, one of the toughest fights out there for Manny, because of Mayweather's style and movement. But I think it's a fight where Manny can push the issue and get to him.

"If Mayweather lays on the ropes with Manny, I think he'd be in trouble. Very difficult fight but a fight the world would love to see because they're both great fighters. The styles are good because you have the classic boxer against the puncher."

Roach has trained Pacquiao for nearly eight years. The Hatton bout will be their 20th together and Roach said he "always hoped for, and wanted, this fight next," after Pacquiao's scintillating upset of Oscar De La Hoya last month.

"I told Manny I'd like to see him fight two more fights then he can retire -- this fight, then Floyd, and if he wins those two fights he can call it a day," Roach said. "He'll have enough money he can secure his family then get into politics, or whatever he wants to do. But it doesn't work in the opposite order, you can't have Floyd first and then Hatton. This is the fight I wanted and this is the fight I expected to happen right away."